Belomys pearsonii (Gray, 1842)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6840226 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6818908 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/064D0660-FF8B-ED76-FA17-FCCFF7B8FC08 |
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treatment provided by |
Diego |
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scientific name |
Belomys pearsonii |
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Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel
French: Polatouche a pieds velus / German: HaarfuR-Gleithornchen / Spanish: Ardilla voladora de patas peludas
Taxonomy. Sciuropterus pearsonii Gray, 1842 ,
“Darjeeling, Assam, India.”
Recent investigations into mtDNA se-
quences of different populations of
B. pearsonii may indicate that certain lineages in Vietnam and Taiwan are different species; however, further phylogeographical work is needed to gain stronger conclusions. Four subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
B.p.kaleensisSwinhoe,1863—Taiwan.
B. p. trichotis Thomas, 1908 — S China (W Yunnan) and NE Myanmar.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 189-214-5 mm, tail 135-8-169-3 mm; weight 156 g. The Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel is small, with long black hairs at bases of large rounded ears. Dorsal surface of patagium is blackish; undersurface is dark, with yellowish or orange wash. Feet are paler and covered in fur. Tail is short, bushy, and light brown. Fur on ventral surface is somewhat flattened and is dark gray in nominate pearsonii, which is otherwise ocherous. Subspecies blandus has rufous underparts; kaleensis is similar in color to pearsonii and blandus but has larger teeth. Subspecies trichotis has white underparts and narrower tooth rows.
Habitat. Primary temperate deciduous or mixed deciduous-coniferous forests in northern parts of its distribution and primary subtropical dry forests in southern parts of its distribution at elevations of 800-2400 m. The Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel occupies tree hollows and rock crevices.
Food and Feeding. Diet of the Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel consists of fruit and leaves or needles of oak, cedar, and pine.
Breeding. Generation length of the Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel is thought to be relatively long (5-6 years). Females have 1-2 young/litter and have three pairs of mammae.
Activity patterns. Hairy-footed Flying Squirrels are nocturnal.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. During a two-year survey in Taiwan, few Hairy-footed Flying Squirrels were recorded, leading researchers to believe that it occurs at low densities.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Current population trend of the Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel is unknown. It may be present in several protected areas. It is listed in Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It is threatened by habitat loss from changing land-use patterns, logging, and forest-fires and by hunting for food.
Bibliography. Agrawal & Chakraborty (1979), Chaimanee & Jaeger (2000), Duckworth & Molur (2008), Jackson (2012), Jackson & Thorington (2012), Koli (2016), Lee Peifen (1998), Lunde et al. (2003), Mishra et al. (2006), Oshida (2006), Oshida, Lin Liangkong, Chang Shihwei et al. (2015), Oshida, Lin Liangkong, Masuda & Yoshida (2000), Oshida, Lin Liangkong, Yanagawa et al. (2002), Oshida, Shafique et al. (2004), Scheibe et al. (2007), Smith & Yan Xie (2008), Srinivasulu et al. (2004), Thorington & Darrow (2000), Thorington, Koprowski et al. (2012), Thorington, Pitassy et al. (2002), Yu Fahong (2002).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
